History and philosophy of International Baccalaureate programme - Essay Example

The research also finds that there is need for further research regarding the efficacy and efficiency of the IBP versus those of ordinary educational programs. In the meritocratic world of today, where the quality of education is greatly valued, it seems important to evaluate the different systems of education in order to assure that the future generation gets the best education possible. With the effects of globalization on today’s world, whereby mobility is an essential factor in the work arena, finding an education system that can be validated internationally is of great importance.

Many of the novel problems in the globalized world have been solved through the evolution of International Baccalaureate Program. The International Baccalaureate Program evolved to allow for the children of mobile parents worldwide to receive a good education. It was intended to enable students to qualify for universities of their choice and study in international schools. So, what started as a solution to a global problem was embraced worldwide because of the academic rigor and international education imparted thereby (Walker, 2004, p. 7). The International School of Geneva was founded in 1924 to meet the needs of the employees of the, now defunct, League of Nations.

The school was the oldest international school in Geneva to survive the Second World War. Its inception was, indeed, a first step towards world harmony and, thus, peace. Its staff came from different countries; the school had to accommodate a diverse range of culture and also prepare the children for university education in their own countries (Peterson, 2005). Although, in the beginning, the idea ignited some of the post war idealists, due to low mobility it did not grow as it did after the Second World War.

In 1951, the International Schools Association (ISA) was set up to help the growing number of international schools. One of the problems encountered by schools throughout the world was to